Nepal faced USA in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 clash at the Dubai International Stadium
USA registered a famous 106-run victory
Harmeet Singh registered Man of the Match winning figures of 6/27
The Monank Patel-led USA earned a famous, big margin win over Nepal in the opening game of the 15th round of the ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 (2023-2027) at the Dubai International Stadium.
This tri-series, which marks the fifteenth round of the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 (2023–27), features eight teams battling for qualification. The top four sides will earn a direct spot in the Qualifier and the rest will have to take the play-off route.
Nepal's Rohit Paudel had won the toss and asked USA to bat first. After losing Andries Gous in the 8th over and Monank Patel in the 14th over for a score of 48, Smit Patel found the support of Saiteja Mukkamalla and the duo stictched a partnership of 95 runs before Patel got run-out for 75.
2 overs after Patel's departure, Saiteja was clean bowled by Sandeep Lamichhane for 42. The onus was then on the USA middle-order to continue the momentum given by Patel and Saiteja and put up a fighting total. Milind Kumar took things on his hands, scoring an unbeaten 70 runs and forming brief partnerships with Shayan Jahangir (11) and Shubham Ranjane (19).
USA were 227/6 when Ranjane left the crease and by the end of the 1st innings, they were 262, thanks to the blistering knock from the bat of Harmeet Singh, who smashed 16 off 6 at a strike rate of 266.
In response, Nepal got off to a worst of starts to their chase with Kushal Bhurtel getting out in just the 2nd ball of the first over from Rushil Ugarkar. Aasif Sheikh and Bhim Sharki steadied Nepal's ship for a while but their 69-run partnership was broken in the 15th over by Shubham Ranjane.
2 balls later Asif Sheikh was also headed back for a score of 37 and also became Harmeet Singh's first scalp of the day. Skipper Rohit Paudel was out for 2 as well. Nepal's hopes started to rebuild when Aarif Sheikh and Dipendra Singh Airee took charge, but a mix-up between the two saw the former get run-out for 20.
Then started the Harmeet Singh show. The left-arm off-spinner destroyed the remaining batting line-up of Nepal and went on to take 5 more wickets to finish with Man of the match winning figures of 6/27. Shubham Ranjane went for 2/32 and Rushil Ugarkar ended with 1/38 to get Nepal all out for 156.
Nepal Vs USA, ICC Men's Cricket World Cup League 2: Ball-By-Ball Commentary
Nepal Vs USA, ICC Men's Cricket World Cup League 2: Toss Update
Nepal won the toss and decided to bowl first against USA.
Nepal Vs USA, ICC Men's Cricket World Cup League 2: Playing XIs
United States of America (Playing XI): Monank Patel(c), Shayan Jahangir, Andries Gous, Saiteja Mukkamalla, Milind Kumar, Shubham Ranjane, Smit Patel(w), Harmeet Singh, Jasdeep Singh, Saurabh Netravalkar, Rushil Ugarkar
Nepal (Playing XI): Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh(w), Dipendra Singh Airee, Bhim Sharki, Aarif Sheikh, Rohit Paudel(c), Gulsan Jha, Sompal Kami, Karan KC, Sandeep Lamichhane, Lalit Rajbanshi
